Nadia Sawalha has claimed that Declan Donnelly will feel relieved that he no longer needs to 'lie' for Ant McPartlin

Coleen Nolan said: “We’re all talking about Ant and it’s a terrible situation, but I was thinking, ‘poor Dec,’ so hard for him as well, he’s out on a limb without him.”

Nadia, whose husband Mark Aderley was in rehab for alcoholism 15 years ago related her own experience to what Dec must be going through.

She said: “They’re partners, aren’t they, and I know when Mark went into rehab, so much of it is saying to the partner, ‘You can’t cover for them anymore, you can’t lie for them, there can be no denial here.’

“And I suppose there is this pressure as they are these squeaky clean stars and they have to keep up this image, and it must be terribly taxing on Dec.”

The Sun revealed Dec is "devastated" about his best friend

42-year-old Dec was spotted in Chiswick, West London, with his wife Ali Astall just hours after The Sun revealed he was "devastated" by what was happening with his best friend.

Dressed in a grey-and-black jacket and jeans, he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Wife Ali also looked down in the dumps as they continue to come to terms with Ant's arrest on Sunday on suspicion of drink-driving.

Ant, 42, crashed into another car at 4pm on Sunday and was taken into police custody and upon his release he announced via a spokesperson he was withdrawing from all current TV commitments and returning to rehab.

Dec may have to contemplate presenting Saturday Night Takeaway alone following Ant's return to rehab

It was also confirmed this week's episode of Saturday Night Takeaway has been cancelled, while the final two episodes of the series are still being discussed.

Meanwhile The Sun revealed Ant's participation in Britain's Got Talent and I'm a Celebrity is also in jeopardy and Dec faces the prospect of presenting alone or with a guest host, such as Scarlett Moffatt.

However, Dec's appearance comes after it was revealed the pair had made a pact never to appear on TV without one another.

Writing in their 2010 autobiography, Ooh! What a Lovely Pair, the duo insisted "neither one of us would ever be on our own out there."

Dec added: "We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed such a remarkable time.

Shocking moment Ant McPartlin is arrested after crashing his car into a lamppost